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Energy
Energy is defined as the ability to do work. It is neither created nor destroyed but it can be stored and converted into different forms that include electrical, light, mechanical, nuclear and chemical. Potential energy is stored energy while kinetic energy is energy in motion. This report looks into the physics of energy and addresses pertinent energy issues affecting the country.
Electricity is one of the fundamental forms of energy; it occurs naturally as lightning or it is produced by other means. It is formed because of movement current through a medium due to electron charge potential difference. Any matter is made up of atoms that are smallest element of a particle. The atom consists of subatomic particles i.e. electrons, neutrons and protons. The electrons revolve around the nucleus, made up of protons and neutrons, along an orbit. It is important to note that each atom has a specific number of protons, neutrons and electrons. Electrons are negatively charged, protons positively charged and neutrons are neutral. Electrons have the ability to flow from one atom to another altering the charge potential of an atom. A charged atom is known as an atom. The flow of electrons between consecutive atoms creates a current that generates electricity.
Energy is measured in joules and one thousand joules is equal to one British thermal unit. Good conductors are materials that offer limited resistance to the flow of current while insulators resist the flow of current through them. The measure of the ability of a material to conduct electricity is called resistance. An electric circuit is a continuous loop that allows the flow of current. The circuit consists of the energy source that offers the potential difference to facilitate the flow of current, the conductors made up of good conductors and the switch that acts as a current regulator. The force that propels electrons around a circuit is called a volt.
Electrical energy is generated through various ways. Thermal power plants generate electricity by the use of steam. Water is brought to the boiler, which heats it up to steam. Most boilers use coal, oil, natural gas or wood to provide the energy. The steam is transported through pipes from the boiler to the turbine where the heat energy in the steam is converted into mechanical energy by the turbines. Turbines consist of hundreds of blades arranged in a specific angle to facilitate rotary movement once subjected to high-pressure steam. A generator is connected to the turbine to convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The steam from the turbines is cooled off to water by cooling towers and then redirected back to the turbines. There are various ways. The shaft from the turbine is connected the generator which generates electricity by cutting the magnetic field to induce voltage into a cupper wire.
From the generator power is transmitted to a transformer that steps up the voltage since it is efficient to transmit power in high voltage. From the power station, high voltage transmission lines transport electricity to substations near the consumers. Substations have transformers that step down the power to a suitable magnitude depending on the needs of the consumer. Every consumer has a meter to bill his consumption, which he pays to the relevant utility company. A circuit box is placed after the meter to regulate the flow of current and to act as a safety device incase of short-circuit.
The major source of energy is fossil fuels; coal, oil and natural gas. They are formed from ancient organic decomposed material subjected under intense temperature and pressure under the earth crust. Another major source of energy is biomass that consists of organic waste, ethanol and firewood. Other sources include geothermal energy, hydropower, nuclear power, ocean energy, solar energy and wind energy. Nuclear energy is achieved through fission and fusion of atoms to produce energy. The sources of energy can be grouped into two major categories; renewable and non-renewable depending on their ability to be regenerated and level of abundance.
As of recent, the energy sector has been under increased criticism due to its role in contributing to global warming and climate change. The main culprit in this debate is continual over reliance on fossil fuels to produce energy. During combustion, fossil fuels produce carbon monoxide, methane and carbon monoxide gases that are major contributors to global warming. On a positive note, renewable energy solutions are being developed to fill this gap especially in the areas of solar power, wind and geothermal power.
However, although nuclear energy offers many prospects to be a leading energy provider its impact on the environment is tainting its image. The wastes from nuclear plants are radioactive exposing the environment to serious damage once disposed. In addition, there are safety concerns on the operations of nuclear power plants and the high risk involved incase an accident occurs.
Another issue of concern is the use of bio-fuels. It is argued that the continued substituting food crops to fuel crops the leading contributor to the current global food crisis. However, proponents to the move claim that only areas with that un-cultivatable are being used.
As the demand for energy grows exponentially, the need for cheaper and clean energy is becoming an area of interest for energy stakeholders. One of the areas being fronted as the energy for the future is the use of hydrogen gas to produce energy. Research shows it is a fuel of high energy and it is carbon neutral. In addition, the use of energy saving appliances and efficient machines will go along way to reduce our energy consumption rates.
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